A/2017 U1 is most likely of interstellar origin. Approaching from above, it was closest to the Sun on Sept. 9. Traveling at 27 miles per second, the comet is headed away from the Earth and sun on its way out of the solar system. (NASA/JPL-Caltech) At a Glance A possible interstellar object discovered on Oct. 14 has the astronomy community abuzz with excitement.Scientists are not yet sure if the rock that measures a quarter-mile in diameter is an asteroid or...

Scientists are baffled by the discovery of a “monster” planet that dwarfs its star and seemingly is too big to exist. ...

At a Glance Temperature increase dramatically from the sun's surface to its upper atmosphere.These images taken in different wavelengths by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory help illustrate the large temperature change. is giving us a look at thescalding temperature range on the sun, from its surface to the upper reaches of its atmosphere. The first image in the series on the left is the sun filtered by white light. That is followed by seven other images in various colors showing the...

At a Glance The Beaver Moon will be bigger and brighter than usual.November's moon is also known as the Frost Moon or Hunter's Moon. Skygazers will be treated this weekend to the bright and beautiful "Beaver"full moon, a not-quite supermoon. This month's moon, which is also known as the Frost moon or the Hunter's moon, will be full on Saturday and misses being a supermoon by just one day. To be designated a supermoon, the moon must be full on...

An artist's impression of an exoplanet. (M. KORNMESSER/AFP/Getty Images) At a Glance A team of scientists has identified 20 more exoplanets that might be suitable for human life.These 20 exoplanets were identified during an analysis of more than 8,000 objects of interest.Further analysis is needed before the discovery is considered official. An international team of scientists has found 20 more exoplanets that might be suitable for human life and are similarto Earth in size. The discovery, which came with the...

This image, captured on Oct. 22, 2017, shows galaxy cluster MACSJ0717.5+3745, one of six being studied by the Hubble Frontier Fields program. Due to the huge mass of the cluster, it is bending the light of background objects, acting as a magnifying lens. It is one of the most massive galaxy clusters known. (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center) At a Glance An ancient galaxy named G09 83808 was discovered by astronomers using the Large Millimeter Telescope, one of the most powerful...

An artist's rendition of a supernova. (NASA, ESA, G. Bacon (STSci)) At a Glance Astronomers have discovered a decades-old supernova that is the first of its kind.The exploding star is 50 times the mass of the sun and is the longest-lived in history.It was observed in September 2014, but researchers discovered it has been exploding since 1954. A star that appeared to have exploded and died multiple times refuses to stop existing completely, and researchers believe this everlasting supernova isthe...

At a Glance Jupiter and Venus will make an early morning conjunction. The planets will appear to be a distance less than the diameter of a full moon away from each other. Early Monday morning, Jupiter and Venus will come together for a brilliant cosmic show as they move closer to one another. In this phenomenon, known as a conjunction, to one another, according to EarthSky.org. It also occurs when a single solar system body gets near another object in...

Venus and Jupiter will appear to move past each other before dawn on Monday. ...

Venus and Jupiter will appear to move past each other before dawn on Monday, November 13th. ...

At a Glance Tuesday's launch of the JPPS-1 weather satellite was aborted just minutes before liftoff.The launch has been rescheduled for Wednesday.Once in orbit, the satellite will be renamed NOAA-20. United Launch Alliance has rescheduled the launch of a next-generation weather satellite for Wednesday aftera rocket issue prevented a planned liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Tuesday morning, NASA says. According to NASA, the launch was after scientists detected a bad reading on the first stage of...

Layers of haze above Pluto, as seen by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft during its flyby of the dwarf planet in July 2015. (NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI) At a Glance Scientists estimated Pluto's temperature would hover around minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit.Data collected by NASA's New Horizons probe put the temperature some 53 degrees colder than expected, puzzling scientists.A new study explains the discrepancy on the dwarf planet's hydrocarbon particle-laden haze. Scientistshave been working for the past two years to understand why Pluto's surface temperatures...